Masks depicting the dead have been found in elite Egyptian burials dating as early as the First Intermediate period (2134-2040 BCE). A mask placed over a mummy’s head both protected and identified the deceased.

The traditional use of burial masks continued when Egypt was controlled by the Greeks (332-30 BCE) and the Romans (30 BCE-395 CE). These masks incorporate Greco-Roman realistic portraiture into the older Egyptian practice of burial masks. The realism of these portraits allows archaeologists to date them by comparing the hairstyles and jewelry to known trends depicted in coin and sculptural portraits.

Friedman, Florence D. “Beyond The Pharaohs : Egypt and The Copts In The 2nd To 7th Centuries A.D.”. Providence: Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, 1989.